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  • January 11, 2023 2:10 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    December 2022—New Jersey is on the up — and while the state continues its efforts to become more business friendly, South Jersey stakeholders continue to grapple with how best to balance development while maintaining its distinct charm as 2023 nears.

    As New Jersey’s growing economy sees it slowly rise through state rankings, density and land scarcity, as well as South Jersey’s strategic location, has driven development, particularly industrial warehousing, further south. While a cooldown in real estate markets seems to be underway, the industrial sector itself remains lucrative and has yet to hit its peak, reports REjournal. New Jersey ranks third at 7.8%, behind only California’s Inland Empire and Boston, for year-over-year leasing activity and rent growth, driven in large part by the strategic location of the Port of New York and New Jersey in the north while PhilaPort flanks the state’s southern border.

    When asked about the expanding scope of New Jersey development, David Greek, managing partner of Greek Development, told Invest:, “In Central and North Jersey, there has been a continued lack of space and an increasingly difficult environment to perfect entitlements and purchase land…If they have a port-related requirement, typically in the past they would limit it to port-centric markets, which are directly adjacent to Newark Port. Because of space scarcity, those requirements have broadened to the point where a port requirement is looking all the way down to 8A on the Turnpike, or all the way out to Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.” Read more from Capital Analytics Associates.

    Jan 5, 2023 | Business News


    *Originally shared by Greater Atlantic City Chamber*

  • January 11, 2023 2:08 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    Governor Phil Murphy signed A573, which makes several changes to the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) Act designed to speed up the construction permitting process. The bill codifies a three-day construction inspection turnaround from the date of the requested inspection and allows for developers to contract with private on-site inspection agencies if local construction officials cannot complete the inspection within three days of the requested date. The bill brings New Jersey in line with several other states where private sector inspections supplement government inspections. The ultimate approval and sign-off on a certificate of occupancy will still come from local construction officials.

    The bill also provides local governments with several avenues to improve their ability to conduct inspections in a timely manner, including a more streamlined bidding process to contract with private inspection agencies to conduct inspections for them or enter into shared services agreements to consolidate work among multiple municipalities.

    In addition to the bill signing, Governor Murphy, along with Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, announced the award of more than $19 million to organizations across the state through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), and the HOME Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) Production Program.

    “As we enter a new year, this Administration’s mission remains the same; we will continue to make New Jersey stronger, fairer, and more affordable for all of our residents,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s bill signing will speed up the construction permitting process, making sure that developers are able to complete their projects without delay. The over $19 million investment will aid in the completion of 79 affordable housing units across our state. These steps will bring us closer to providing quality and affordable homes to our residents.”

    Today’s funding is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and provides financial assistance for the development of different types of affordable housing projects to create housing that New Jersey residents can afford in communities around the state. The federal funding that DCA receives from the National Housing Trust Fund and the HOME CHDO Program comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

    “Governor Murphy and I are committed to addressing the shortage of affordable housing in New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “We are contributing significant funding for these projects, which will create decent, stable housing throughout the state that is affordable and accessible. Through this investment, we will strengthen neighborhoods, create more diverse communities, and stimulate economic development.”

    All the awards were given to smaller rental and homeownership housing projects sized at 25 or fewer units, which often have difficulty obtaining financing. These projects will fill the gaps within the existing affordable housing framework, build on current assets and investments, and add value to neighborhoods. The projects are also being developed by community-based organizations that have a strong connection to the housing equity issues in their communities.

    A total of 17 developers were awarded these funds totaling a $19,082,545 investment towards 79 units. The award recipients include:

    Affordable Housing Trust Fund Awards

    SJCS Rehab, LLC – $1,552,731 for 10 units in Camden City
    Garden State Episcopal CDC – $1,454,911 for 6 units in East Orange City
    Magill Real Estate Holdings, LLC -$3,813,526 for 20 units in the City of Elizabeth
    HOME Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) Program

    Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society – $270,600 for 1 unit in Woodbury City
    National Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

    GFM Properties, Inc – $1,000,000 for 4 units in Midland park Borough
    Nouvelle Housing Solutions, Inc. – $1,000,000 for 4 units in Franklin Lakes Borough
    The Salt & Light Company, Inc. – $651,900 for 4 units in Pemberton Borough
    LUA Homes LLP – $1,000,000 for 2 units in the City of Newark
    BES Homes LLC – $1,000,000 for 2 units in the City of Newark
    Homes By TLC, Inc. – $866,000 for 2 units in Ewing Township
    Reformed Church of Highland Park – $1,000,000 for 4 units in Highland Park
    Perth Amboy YMCA – $1,000,000 for 7 units in Perth Amboy
    Triple C Housing, Inc. – $1,000,000 for 2 units in North Brunswick Township
    Affordable Housing Alliance, Inc. – $1,000,000 for 3 units in Millstone Township
    HABcore, Inc. – $805,120 for 2 units in the City of Asbury Park
    Triple C Housing, Inc. – $667,757 for 2 units in Berkeley Township
    Nouvelle Housing Solutions, Inc. – $1,000,000 for 4 units in Wayne Township


    “This common sense legislation will help ordinary citizens cut through bureaucratic red tape and expedite important inspections which will help spur the economy,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “We are also making important investments in affordable housing that will help make homes more affordable for families who face financial obstacles in finding places to live. These efforts will make housing more affordable and improve the quality of life for residents in diverse communities.”

    “Helping New Jersey’s small business community grow and thrive was one of the essential priorities we identified at the outset of this session,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Providing a more efficient construction inspection process will enable businesses in New Jersey to open their doors to serve their communities faster, eliminating barriers that lengthen the costly construction process.”

    “In New Jersey, applying for and receiving a building permit can be a lengthy and costly process. This law will establish a means to simplify and expedite the process to shorten the time it takes to get a new construction permit,” said Senator Patrick J. Diegnan. “I am grateful to my colleagues, and the Governor for providing residents with an alternative option for contractors, businesses, and homeowners who wish to take a quicker route to getting an inspection done.”

    “Construction inspections are an important part of the process of building a small business, ensuring both customers and staff are safe. Yet too often the process is cumbersome and lengthy, adding unnecessary costs for small business owners,” said Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald. “This legislation will make the current construction inspection process more efficient and timely for small businesses, allowing them to realize their dreams and get to work.”

    “By codifying the required three-day inspection turnaround, we ensure things can move along expeditiously,” said Assemblyman Rob Karabinchak. “Right now three days is the standard but because it’s not set in stone it’s often ignored and at the expense of a business or contractor experiencing costly delays.”

    “Affordable housing should be a basic right for everyone and today, Governor Murphy signed a bill to expedite that process,” said City of Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “This initiative is not only a major step forward for our city, but a solution for an ongoing problem.”

    “The bill signed today will foster a more efficient system of handling building code inspections that will result in a more affordable housing market, revitalized economic strength and additional career and business opportunities in the construction industry,” said Jeff Kolakowski, CEO, New Jersey Builders Association. “I applaud Governor Murphy, Lt. Governor Oliver, legislative sponsors and coalition partners for a truly collaborative process that allowed us to find a sensible solution to a problem that has quietly plagued the state’s residents and its development and business communities for years. This is prime example of good governance and how the public and private sectors can come together to better meet the needs of our state.”

    “NJBIA thanks Governor Murphy for signing this bill into the law and the sponsors and Legislature for their full support. We greatly appreciate both working with the business community and construction industry on this legislation,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka. ” This law provides a more expeditious process for obtaining construction inspections, which is greatly needed to avoid unnecessary delays for certificates of occupancy.”

    Jan 6, 2023 | AdvocacyBusiness News

    *Originally shared by Greater Atlantic City Chamber*


  • January 11, 2023 2:07 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    The City of Atlantic City is partnering with NJ TRANSIT to conduct a study on how to improve safety, comfort, and access in the midtown area around both the Atlantic City Bus Terminal and the Rail Terminal. Take the survey.


    *Shared from Greater Atlantic City Chamber*

  • January 05, 2023 11:26 AM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)


    Attention South Jersey Artists, Arts and Culture Organizations, and Community Members!

    The New Jersey State Council on the Arts Virtual Public Listening Sessions provide artists and arts organizations with the opportunity to give direct feedback to the State Council. The sessions will be held virtually, allowing for participation from artists and organizations from all corners of the state. Will you be there?

    The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has expressed a specific interest in hearing feedback from individual artists in South Jersey!

    Nobody knows South Jersey arts and culture like the people making it happen! The State Council needs YOUR feedback to understand South Jersey-specific strengths, challenges, and interests. South Jersey's story matters - but only if we tell it, and who can do that better than YOU?

    Please register and take a few minutes to make your voice heard. This is a crucial opportunity for the South Jersey arts and culture community to directly impact the future of the arts in our region and beyond.

    To register, please follow the link(s) below: 

    Virtual Public Listening Sessions

    • January 18, 2023, | 10:00 am  
    Individual Artists | register here.
    • January 19, 2023, | 7:00 pm
    Arts Organizations | register here.
    • January 24, 2023, | 7:00 pm
    Individual Artists | register here.
    • January 25, 2023, | 12:00 pm

    Arts Organizations | register here.


  • December 09, 2022 4:15 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    Atlantic Shores hosted its first open house Saturday at the Community Center to give people more information about its offshore wind project off the island’s coast.

    The meeting was originally scheduled for Nov. 12 but was rescheduled by Atlantic Shores in what it said was a bid to provide people with more accurate information.


    Atlantic Shores plans to build 111 wind turbines about 10 miles off the coast at three different lease sites. The project approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is expected to be fully operational by 2027. Read more from The Press of Atlantic City.


  • November 29, 2022 11:14 AM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday it will host another two-day summit & expo, March 14-15 at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

    Last spring, the chamber gathered more than 650 business executives for a summit that produced recommendations to state leaders about New Jersey’s most pressing business and economic issues.

    This year’s event will discuss the actions taken on these recommendations and provide a multiday program of information and tools that businesses can use to grow their bottom lines.

    “The 2022 summit was a hit, and we expect next year’s to be bigger and better,” chamber CEO Tom Bracken said.

    And, while the summit will be the chamber’s biggest event of the year, Bracken said it should not be viewed as a permanent replacement for the Walk to Washington.

    “This business summit will be our primary focus because of the current dynamics of the state,” he said — noting both the recession and the still-lingering pandemic.

    “We are still hopeful that there will be a right time to bring back the Walk the Washington.”


  • November 29, 2022 11:11 AM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    Galloway, N.J. — Inflation is making the holidays a bit less merry, as many in New Jersey are cutting back on gift-giving or seasonal travel, according to a Stockton University Poll released Monday.

    Two-thirds of New Jersey adults surveyed said inflation was impacting their holiday spending a great deal (39%) or somewhat (27%), and one in three said they will spend less this year compared to a year ago. Nearly half (46%) are spending the same, with only 13% spending more.

    Similarly, 42% described their financial situation as worse than a year ago, with 41% saying it’s about the same and 15% saying it’s better. How are people coping with higher costs? Almost half (47%) said they are spending less on everyday expenses to save more money for holiday shopping. Fifty-one percent said they have not had to scrimp to pay for holiday spending.

    The Stockton Poll of 570 New Jersey adults was conducted Oct. 26 through Nov. 15 for the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University and has a margin of error of +/-4.1%.

    “Inflation has gripped consumers with grinch-like tenacity,” said John Froonjian, director of the Hughes Center. “It is making holiday shopping more challenging, but people will spend less on their daily expenses to maintain the spirit of giving.”

    Adults aged 30-49 — the group most likely to be raising children — are especially challenged by the economy, according to the poll. About three-quarters (76%) said inflation is affecting their spending plans, including 45% who are greatly impacted. Sixty percent said they have cut back on living expenses to be able to afford the holidays.

    About one in four (27%) New Jersey adults plan to travel over the holidays but most (68%) do not. Fourteen percent said they had to change or cancel their travel plans, and 42% of all respondents said cost affected their decisions about taking holiday trips. One in five said airline disruptions and concern about flight cancellations affected their thinking, and 22% said concerns about COVID-19 affected their travel decisions.

    Among those who will shop for the holidays (11% will do no shopping), 53% plan to shop online using apps on a device or through retailer websites, while 30% plan to go to stores in person. Either way, some shoppers are already experiencing pandemic-era shopping frustrations. One in five said the gift they wanted to buy was out of stock, and one in three have experienced shipping delays, said Hughes Center Research Associate Alyssa Maurice.

    One out of five shoppers (21%) got an early jump and started shopping in October or earlier, and 22% started earlier this month. Thirty percent are waiting until Thanksgiving or early December to get started, and 6% are waiting until late December to start their shopping.

    One silver lining for those staying put over the holidays is that majorities feel there is plenty to do in New Jersey that is affordable and family friendly. When asked about local recreational options, 57% agreed there are adequate free recreational options and 61% said they are satisfied with affordable options for recreation. And 65% said there are adequate family-friendly activities available where they live. Still, one in three said they have had to forego recreational plans because of the cost, the poll found.

    For full results of the poll, go to  stockton.edu/hughes-center/polling/polling-results- 2022.html.

    Methodology
    The poll of New Jersey adult residents was conducted by the Stockton Polling Institute of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy from Oct. 26-Nov. 15, 2022. Stockton University students texted cell phones with invitations to take the survey online and Opinion Services supplemented the dialing portion of the fieldwork, which consisted of cell and landline telephone calls. Overall, 90% of interviews were conducted on cell phones and 10% on landline phones. In terms of mode, 79% were reached via dialing and 21% were reached via text-to-web. A total of 570 New Jersey adult residents were interviewed. Both cell and landline samples consisted of random digit dialing (RDD) sample from MSG. Data are weighted based on U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data for New Jersey on variables of age, race, ethnicity, education level, sex, and region. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 4.1 percentage points at a 95%
    confidence level. MOE is higher for subsets.

    About the Hughes Center
    The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy (stockton.edu/hughescenter) at
    Stockton University serves as a catalyst for research, analysis and innovative policy solutions on the economic, social and cultural issues facing New Jersey, and promotes the civic life of New Jersey through engagement, education and research. The center is named for the late William J. Hughes, whose distinguished career includes service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ambassador to Panama and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton. The Hughes Center can be found on YouTube, and can be followed on Facebook @StocktonHughesCenter, Twitter @hughescenter and Instagram @ stockton_hughes_center.

    # # #

    Media contacts:
    Stacey Clapp

    Director of Strategic Communications
    Stacey.Clapp@stockton.edu
    609-626-3645
    609-412-8069

    Mark Melhorn
    Associate Director of News and Media Relations

    Mark.Melhorn@stockton.edu
    609-652-4593
    609-569-6026
    stockton.edu/media

    Stockton University
    Stockton University is ranked among the top public universities in the Northeast. Our almost 10,000 students can choose to live and learn on the 1600-acre wooded main campus in the Pinelands National Reserve in South Jersey and at our coastal residential campus just steps from the beach and Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The university offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs. Learn more at Stockton.edu.


  • November 26, 2022 2:20 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)


  • October 25, 2022 3:15 PM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    Rutgers-Eagleton is out with a new poll examining the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act and whether New Jerseyans support it or believe it will impact their strained wallets.

    The survey found that while two-thirds support the IRA, nearly the same number do not think the legislation will be helpful to them personally.

    Overall, 41% say they strongly support the IRA, while 24% somewhat support it. Meanwhile 8% somewhat oppose it, and 22% strongly oppose it.

    Despite the strong support, most New Jerseyans do not believe the IRA will help them and their families’ finances and spending: About 10% feel it will help them a lot, 24% said some, 22% a little, and 38% not at all.

    “There is a bit of a disconnect between support for the Inflation Reduction Act and how much New Jerseyans actually think they will be impacted, with even the law’s strongest supporters divided on how much it will help them personally,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University – New Brunswick. “The fact that voters do not perceive a significant personal benefit from major legislation by the Biden Administration during difficult economic times is a troubling sign for Democratic candidates across the country with a consequential election just weeks ago.”

    And to that end, unsurprisingly, the views are starkly divided along party lines.

    Most Democrats support the legislation (69% strongly support, 21% somewhat support), while most Republicans oppose it (16% somewhat oppose, 65% strongly oppose). The poll found that Independents are mostly supportive, but not as much as Democrats, with 30% strongly supporting the IRA and 32% somewhat in favor.

    The poll also found that because of inflation, New Jerseyans reported cutting back on spending in order to afford necessities with 28% saying they cut back on spending a lot, 33% said they cut back on some spending, 19% a little, and another 19% saying not at all.

    “Reports of cutting back on spending come as no surprise, given that New Jerseyans cite economic issues as the top reason why they will vote in the upcoming midterm elections,” said Jessica Roman, a research associate at ECPIP. “Voters are looking at their wallets and hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel amidst the soaring cost of living.”

    By: Matthew Fazelpoor
    October 25, 2022 1:00 pm


  • October 25, 2022 9:29 AM | Brigantine Chamber (Administrator)

    The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development today announced a reduction in worker and employer contribution rates to the state’s Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance programs for next year.

    Workers will see their contribution rates for Temporary Disability drop to zero percent, from .14 percent, while the Family Leave rate will be cut by more than half, to .06 percent, from .14 percent. In practical terms, workers will save an average of $56.25 in Temporary Disability contributions and $55.25 in Family Leave contributions in 2023.

    Collectively, the state’s roughly 4 million workers will save approximately $223 million per program next year. Read more from NJ.gov.


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